Miraculous Golf Course Survival
Oregon Golfer Survives 'Remarkable' Lightning Strike on Course, Expected to Recover
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A golfer in Oregon survived a lightning strike on June 22, 2024, after being hit on the course at the Oregon Golf Club near West Linn. The man was conscious enough after the strike to call the pro shop for help — a feat that officials say likely saved his life. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Captain Ryan Stenhouse called it "pretty uncommon" and said in his 20-plus-year career, he had never seen anything like it.
Pro shop staff retrieved the man by golf cart and brought him inside the clubhouse. Emergency crews arrived shortly after and transported him to a local trauma center. He is expected to make a full recovery.
A Self-Rescue That Made the Difference
After the strike, the man managed to grab a phone and call the Oregon Golf Club pro shop on Pete's Mountain Road. He told staff he had been hit and needed help. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue noted this was the key moment — had he lost consciousness, responders may never have found him in time.
Captain Stenhouse said it is "remarkable that he was able to call for help and that he's expected to recover." Staff reached him by golf cart and brought him to safety before emergency crews arrived. The quick chain of events — from strike to shelter — unfolded in roughly 25 minutes.
Lightning on an Elevated Oregon Course
The Oregon Golf Club sits on Pete's Mountain, an elevated area in West Linn. Higher ground increases the risk of lightning strikes because it shortens the path from cloud to earth. The National Weather Service had issued alerts for scattered thunderstorms across Clackamas County earlier that afternoon, according to KGW8 News.
Lightning strikes are less common in the Pacific Northwest than in Florida or the Midwest. But "pulse" storms — fast-moving cells that are hard to track — can catch people off guard, meteorologist Chris McGinness noted. Oregon has seen golf-related lightning deaths before, including a fatality at another course in 1993.
What a Lightning Strike Does to the Body
A single lightning bolt carries roughly 300 million volts and 30,000 amps, according to the National Weather Service. Survival depends largely on the type of strike. A direct hit is the most dangerous. A "side flash" — where lightning jumps from a nearby object like a tree — or a "ground current" strike tends to be less lethal.
The man's injuries were "consistent with a lightning strike," Captain Stenhouse said. Such injuries typically include entry and exit burns and possible nerve damage. About 90% of lightning strike victims survive, per NOAA, but many live with lasting neurological or physical effects. The U.S. sees roughly 20 to 25 lightning deaths per year.
Safety Gaps That the Incident Puts in the Spotlight
Most golf courses follow the "30-30 Rule": if thunder follows a lightning flash within 30 seconds, seek shelter immediately, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out. It is unclear whether the Oregon Golf Club's warning system was active or whether the golfer had been advised to leave the course, according to Golf Digest safety standards.
Safety advocates note the NWS had warned of storms before the strike happened. The National Lightning Safety Council argues that survival stories should not overshadow the need for stricter "clear the course" policies. TVF&R used the incident to remind the public of a simple rule: "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors."
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